NHL dream still alive in Connecticut

Bill Cummings

Updated 10:51 pm, Monday, January 7, 2013

Photo: File Photo

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31 Jan 1997: General view of a game between the Anaheim Mighty Ducks and the Hartford Whalers at Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California. The Ducks won the game, 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Todd Warshaw /Allsport

31 Jan 1997: General view of a game between the Anaheim Mighty Ducks and the Hartford Whalers at Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California. The Ducks won the game, 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Todd Warshaw /Allsport

Photo: File Photo

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14 JAN 1994: PAT VERBEEK, RIGHT WING FOR THE HARTFORD WHALERS, SKATES AGAINST THE MIGHTY DUCKS OF ANAHEIM DURING THE DUCKS'' 6-3 WIN AT THE POND IN ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Cratty/ALLSPORT

14 JAN 1994: PAT VERBEEK, RIGHT WING FOR THE HARTFORD WHALERS, SKATES AGAINST THE MIGHTY DUCKS OF ANAHEIM DURING THE DUCKS'' 6-3 WIN AT THE POND IN ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Cratty/ALLSPORT

Photo: Glenn Cratty, Getty Images

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Defenseman Zarley Zalapski of the Hartford Whalers.

Defenseman Zarley Zalapski of the Hartford Whalers.

Photo: Robert Laberge, Getty Images

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LOS ANGELES - 1989: Ray Ferraro #20 of the Hartford Whalers takes a shot during a game against the Los Angeles Kings in the 1988-1989 season at the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tim DeFrisco/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES - 1989: Ray Ferraro #20 of the Hartford Whalers takes a shot during a game against the Los Angeles Kings in the 1988-1989 season at the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by

13 Feb 1997: Leftwinger Sami Kapanen of the Hartford Whalers moves down the ice during a game against the New Jersey Devils at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Devils won the game, 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello /Alls

13 Feb 1997: Leftwinger Sami Kapanen of the Hartford Whalers moves down the ice during a game against the New Jersey Devils at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Devils won the

13 Feb 1997: Goaltender Jason Muzzatti of the Hartford Whalers looks on during a game against the New Jersey Devils at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Devils won the game, 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello /Allsport

13 Feb 1997: Goaltender Jason Muzzatti of the Hartford Whalers looks on during a game against the New Jersey Devils at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Devils won the game,

13 Feb 1997: Rightwinger Nelson Emerson of the Hartford Whalers moves down the ice during a game against the New Jersey Devils at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Devils won the game, 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello /A

13 Feb 1997: Rightwinger Nelson Emerson of the Hartford Whalers moves down the ice during a game against the New Jersey Devils at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Devils won

17 Jan 1997: Leftwinger Geoff Sanderson of the Hartford Whalers excels as the fastest skater during the NHL Super-Skills Competition at the San Jose Arena in San Jose, California.

17 Jan 1997: Leftwinger Geoff Sanderson of the Hartford Whalers excels as the fastest skater during the NHL Super-Skills Competition at the San Jose Arena in San Jose, California.

Photo: File Photo

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13 Feb 1997: Defenseman Curtis Leschyshyn of the Hartford Whalers moves down the ice during a game against the New Jersey Devils at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Devils won the game, 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello

13 Feb 1997: Defenseman Curtis Leschyshyn of the Hartford Whalers moves down the ice during a game against the New Jersey Devils at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Devils

13 Feb 1997: Goaltender Jason Muzzatti of the Hartford Whalers blocks a shot during a game against the New Jersey Devils at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Devils won the game, 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello /Allspor

13 Feb 1997: Goaltender Jason Muzzatti of the Hartford Whalers blocks a shot during a game against the New Jersey Devils at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Devils won the

13 Feb 1997: Leftwinger Kent Manderville of the Hartford Whalers moves the puck during a game against the New Jersey Devils at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Devils won the game, 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello /Alls

13 Feb 1997: Leftwinger Kent Manderville of the Hartford Whalers moves the puck during a game against the New Jersey Devils at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Devils won the

13 Feb 1997: Goaltender Sean Burke of the Hartford Whalers looks on during a game against the New Jersey Devils at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Devils won the game, 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello /Allsport

13 Feb 1997: Goaltender Sean Burke of the Hartford Whalers looks on during a game against the New Jersey Devils at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Devils won the game, 4-0.

13 Feb 1997: Defenseman Glen Featherstone of the Hartford Whalers looks on during a game against the New Jersey Devils at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Devils won the game, 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello /Allsport

13 Feb 1997: Defenseman Glen Featherstone of the Hartford Whalers looks on during a game against the New Jersey Devils at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Devils won the

13 Feb 1997: Goaltender Jason Muzzatti of the Hartford Whalers looks on during a game against the New Jersey Devils at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Devils won the game, 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello /Allsport

13 Feb 1997: Goaltender Jason Muzzatti of the Hartford Whalers looks on during a game against the New Jersey Devils at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Devils won the game,

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Monday revived an aging dream that a National Hockey League franchise might return to Connecticut, saying he recently spoke with "individuals" who want to bring a team to Hartford.

But Malloy cautioned the conversation was not unusual or specific. He refuted a report that he had formed a group to pursue an NHL team or was considering building a new hockey arena outside of Hartford.

"I have spoken to individuals who have expressed a desire to bring a team to Hartford; there is not a year in which I have not been approached by someone who wants to bring a professional team somewhere," Malloy said, referring to conversations during his 14 years as mayor of Stamford and two years as governor.

The governor declined to say who approached him or which team the "individuals" represented. An aide to the governor said the conversation involved an "intermediary" and not a direct representative of a team.

The idea of an NHL team returning to Connecticut has surfaced periodically since the Hartford Whalers left the city in 1997 and relocated to North Carolina.

Attendance for both minor league teams is weak, however, and many believe the combination of an overall soft hockey fan base and the state's small media market means major league hockey will never return to Connecticut.

"I understand why I'm being approached and I have not put a committee together," Malloy said, explaining that the NHL is just coming out of a labor dispute that had cancelled the season so far.

"So now, against that backdrop, you had this long labor dispute with an expectation teams will probably be up for sale soon," Malloy said. "That is probably why I was approached."

"My response is, if you are sincere and you want to meet with us, we will meet with you. But to date I have had no meetings with anyone about their specific interest," the governor said.

Referring to the future of the XL Center, Malloy said it would take lots of private money to build a new facility.

"My expectation is the XL Center is to be rehabilitated, no matter what we do," he said. "I have had discussions with the owners of the minor league team there about their level of commitment. My thoughts have revolved around the XL Center. I have not spent any amount of time considering that."